Athos froze. He was walking up the corridor, on his way to his next lesson when he saw a girl walking towards him. Her long brown, curly hair was something Athos hoped he'd never see again. Stopping in the middle of the corridor, Athos didn't notice as students pushed past him, sending glares his way as he and the girls' gazes met. She smiled at him and Athos felt his heart stutter before she disappeared through down the corridor once more.
It was a general rule in school that Athos didn't cause trouble, unless provoked at which point he had a temper that might rival Porthos'. He wasn't like Aramis who felt the need to flirt with any woman in the school, teacher or not; and he wasn't like Porthos who gambled and got into fights at least once a week. No, Athos was the sensible one but right now Athos just felt the uncomprehend able need to ditch his last few lessons and find somewhere to drown his sorrows. As far away from her as possible.
"Move out of the way." Rochefort said, pushing Athos who promptly went flying onto the floor.
"Hey, watch where you're going?" Aramis' voice said, glaring at Rochefort who only glared at Aramis as the younger boy knelt down next to Athos. "You okay?" He asked, still not taking his eyes from Rochefort as his hands travelled along Athos' body to determine if the older boy was injured.
"I'm fine." Athos said, pushing Aramis' fingers away a little too roughly as his little brother looked a little put out but he hid it quickly by plastering a smile on his face. Athos could see the worry in his eyes though and cursed himself for letting Aramis find him in this state, of all his brothers Aramis was the one who noticed when something was wrong.
Rochefort looked between the two before turning away from them and leaving them in the corridor. "You better get to class." Athos said, shooing Aramis down the now empty corridor.
"Athos…" Aramis began but something in Athos' gaze must have put him off as he nodded and said a tentative goodbye before going down the corridor. Athos stood there for a few moments before walking the opposite way down the corridor to the school entrance. He couldn't be here, not if she was.
….
"Aramis?" Adele asked as the two friends walked out of the school gates. Aramis started a little, turning his charming smile on her but she only frowned. "What's wrong, you've been awfully quiet." She said, turning to face him.
"Nothing you can help with my dear." He replied, grinning softly to her. She shook her head in exasperation as they neared the gate.
"Boys'." She sighed as she hugged him tightly. The two had been friends since for 2 years and after a failed attempt at dating a few months ago, they'd become very close friends, something all the other girls in her year where jealous of. "I'll see you next week." Adele said and Aramis nodded, waving goodbye as she walked the opposite way down the street to Aramis.
…
Aramis and D'artagnan were already sparring when Porthos got to the gym. "You're late." Aramis smiled as he easily disarmed D'artagnan while the younger was distracted.
"Busy." He said, feeling his heat up a little. He'd been with Flea.
"Sure." Aramis drawled as he offered D'artagnan a hand off. The younger took it but with an annoyed look on his face. "You shouldn't get distracted pup." Aramis replied and D'artagnan glared further, choosing to tackle Aramis to the ground. His older brother dodged out of the way, having had a lot of practice dodging Porthos, leaving D'artagnan to once more plummet to the floor. "Better luck next time pup."
"I'm not a pup. I'm what, 2 years younger than you." D'artagnan replied as he turned to Porthos. "Have you seen Athos?"
"He not here yet?" Porthos asked, a little surprised. Athos was nearly always the first here.
"No, we thought he was waiting for you." Aramis said, a worried glint in his eyes. Porthos had never quite understood why bit whenever one of them disappeared Aramis got anxious.
"Haven't seen him since this morning." Porthos replied. "You?" D'artagnan shook his head.
"I saw him earlier on, he got pushed over by Rochefort." Aramis said, causing Porthos to growl. Damn Rochefort. The older boy was a similar age to Athos, slightly younger, and lived in the foster home with them. He also happened to be Richelieu's favourite. "He looked like he'd seen a ghost." Aramis said, his voice low and full of worry.
After that, none of them wanted to continue practising so they packed up and headed back to the home. Considering it was the only place they couldn't think Athos might be, they figured they might as well start there looking for him.
….
They found Athos in their room, in the dark. "Why don't you put the light on." Porthos growled as he pushed the door open and Aramis flicked the switch. They froze at what they saw, though. Athos was sitting in the middle of the bed, nursing a bottle of what appeared to be wine. His eyes were red as if he'd been crying and there were a few empty bottles scattered around the bed.
"Bloody hell, Athos." Aramis murmured as he went towards the bed.
"Get out." Athos growled, not looking at any of them. D'artagnan hovered by the door, unsure what to do and by the looks of Aramis and Porthos they didn't know either.
"Athos, what's wrong?" Aramis asked, tentatively going forwards to touch Athos only to have the older boy strike out. Unfortunately, the hand he went to push Aramis away with held the glass bottle which promptly shattered when it came into contact with Aramis' arm, which wasn't really a surprise considering the force Athos had hit out.
Aramis' small hiss of pain seemed to snap Athos out of it as he turned to Aramis with a look of pure guilt and shock on his face. "I'm so sorry Aramis." Athos whispered, dropping the bottle the ground. Aramis managed a small smile as Porthos came to pull Athos up from the bed.
"D'artagnan, how about you clean up this mess before Treville comes in." Porthos suggested as he pulled Athos, who was staggering along compliantly now, in to the bathroom and motioned for Aramis to follow.
"Athos?" Porthos asked, as he deposited his older brother on the floor to have so he could look at Aramis' arm. Athos was shaking where he stood, looking incredibly pale and there were tears in his eyes. He looked a complete mess.
"Aramis, I am so so sorry. I didn't mean to…" Athos trailed off, catching sight of some of the blood on Aramis' arm.
"It's fine, 'thos." Aramis promised, showing Athos his arm. "Just a few grazes, nothing that won't heal." He joked but his tone had a harsh edge to it, filled with worry. "What's wrong?" He said but before Athos could say anything in reply he felt nausea coming up his throat and only just made it to the toilet where he promptly vomited up the wine he'd just drank.
"Where did you get the wine Athos?" Porthos tried as Aramis knelt next to Athos and held his hair as Athos vomited again.
"Fake ID." Athos replied and Aramis and Porthos couldn't help laugh a little, the idea of Athos with a fake ID was just funny.
"Why'd you do it?" Aramis asked, sobering again as a long sob escaped Athos.
"I saw someone." Athos replied. The other two shared a look and where about to say more when the door opened and Treville walked in.
"What happened?" He asked and for a moment Porthos thought D'artagnan had told him about Athos drinking the alcohol.
"Athos is sick, Captain." Aramis replied, sending Treville a smile as Athos once more vomited into the toilet. Treville frowned at the innocent looks on the two boys; faces before turning around.
"Find me if you need anything." Treville sighed, going to turn around before catching sight of Aramis' arm. "What happened to your arm Aramis?"
"Fell on some glass at school, nothing too bad." Aramis replied and this time Treville did frown. He knew something was going on here but he knew his boys' well enough to know they would come and get him if they needed him.
"Okay, find me if you need me." Treville said, with one more glance at the group of boys.
When he finally left, the two sighed in relief as Athos lifted his head from the toilet. "Bed I think." Porthos stated, helping Athos to his feet and walking him to his bed.
"I'm sorry." Athos said as they settled him down. D'artagnan had returned now and the bottles were gone.
"There's nothing to apologise for, Athos. And if you don't want to tell us, you don't have to." Porthos said, tucking Athos into the bed. "Just know we're here for you if you ever need to talk."
"I saw Anne, me ex-girlfriend." Athos found himself murmuring in his sleep. "She killed my brother Thomas." And he was out like a light, leaving a very shocked Aramis, Porthos and D'artagnan in his wake.
So….hope you enjoyed and please review :)